15/03/2011 Warwick University Student goes Blonde for The Horse Trust

The Horse Trust cares for around 100 rescued, abandoned and retired working horses, ponies and donkeys at its sanctuary in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.

Malaysian national Yaqin, who is a first year Accounting and Finance student at the University of Warwick, went to a Toni & Guy salon with his friends on Saturday to get his hair dyed blonde. He has set his fundraising target at £125 as it is The Horse Trust's 125th anniversary this year.

"Everyone said it's going to look ridiculous - my hair's normally black so it's quite a dramatic change," said Yaqin. "I'm not going to dye it back again either - I'm going to wait till it grows back out!"

Yaqin wanted to help an equine charity as regularly plays polo and loves horses. In his home town of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Yaqin is a member of the Royal Selangor Polo Club. He has played polo since he was six years old and regularly plays with friends at the University of Warwick.

"I've loved horses since I was young - they're just so cute," said Yaqin. "I've helped horse charities in Malaysia and thought it would be good to do something for a British horse charity. I decided to support The Horse Trust as I saw it is the oldest horse charity in the UK."

Susan Lewis, Fundraising Manager for The Horse Trust said: "We would like to say a big thank you to Yaqin for doing such a bold makeover to raise money for the charity! The money he has raised will help us to continue our work with rescue cases and retired working horses."

The Horse Trust depends on the support of the public to look after the rescued, abandoned and retired working horses at its sanctuary. It costs the charity around £10 per day to look after each horse at the sanctuary. To donate to The Horse Trust and support Yaqin's fundraising efforts, visit his Justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/YaqinKhan